Ever since Ida Weller's father was killed in a plane crash, her life has been hard. Her mother left for California, too sad to live in Maine anymore, leaving Ida with her cold-hearted Aunt Mirra. But Ida's never been quite right in the head, and her new goal is to fly. The others don't get it; she'll probably die soon from all the injuries she's gotten from falling off the barn roof. But Ida's determined. And if she's not happy, neither is anyone else. And nobody's going to stop her.